Was the Gilded Age a golden era of American progress or a dark age of ruthless exploitation? In this high-stakes mock trial, your students aren't just reading about the past; they’re deciding the verdict for the biggest figures of the Gilded Age. 
 
From the cutthroat boardrooms of Rockefeller and Morgan to the staggering wealth gap of the working poor, your students will dive into the grit and greed of the late 19th century.
 
Students Will Learn:
How Gilded Age industrialists used monopoly tactics to eliminate competition and consolidate economic power
Differentiate between Horizontal and Vertical Integration Methods
The causes and effects of the wealth gap between the rich and working poor
How Social Darwinism was used to justify economic inequality
How to evaluate philanthropy as part of a historical figure's legacy
How to construct a written argument that takes a position, uses evidence, and addresses a counterargument

What’s Included:
4 page History Cat article that provides the depth teachers need with a voice that students love. 
Prosecution & Defense Packets: Specialized evidence-collection sheets for each side.
CER Closing Argument Template: A structured framework for constructing a 2 paragraph CER style verdict. 
Teacher’s Guide: Everything you need to set up the trial. No Prep.
Exit Ticket: Students step out of character and share their "Personal Verdict"

 
Duration: 60 Minutes
Level: Grades 8–10
Format: Editable Word (.docx)
DOK Level: 2–3 (Application & Strategic Thinking)